Stress-free travel to BER Airport
Travelling to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) can be stressful if it is not well planned. A smooth journey not only saves time, but also ensures a relaxed start to your trip. In this article, you will find valuable tips for avoiding traffic jams, choosing the best route and arriving at the airport without stress.
What is the best time to leave for BER?
The optimal departure time depends on various factors, such as the time of day, the day of the week, the distance from the location and the current traffic situation. In the morning and evening, there may be delays due to rush hour traffic. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at BER Airport at least two hours before departure and to leave early depending on the distance. If you are travelling by car, you should also keep an eye on the parking situation and reserve a space in advance.
Real-time traffic information is a crucial factor for a stress-free journey. Especially on busy days such as public holidays or the start of the school holidays, timing can help to avoid unpleasant delays.
Route planning with real-time traffic information
Modern navigation tools such as Google Maps or Waze offer up-to-date traffic information and suggest alternative routes. Particularly helpful are:
Google Maps
Download for iOS: Real-time traffic data, alternative routes and estimated times of arrival
Waze
Deutsche Bahn App
Download for iOS: real-time train connections and alternative transport options
The ADAC also provides regular traffic updates for motorways and federal highways. You can access the ADAC's current traffic forecasts and congestion warnings on the official ADAC traffic information page. If you are travelling by train, you should find out about possible delays or construction work in good time.
Avoiding traffic jams and alternative routes
Despite good planning, unforeseen traffic jams can occur. For example, numerous state guests arrive at the government terminal at BER Airport, and it is not uncommon for the access roads to the government district to be closed for security reasons. It is worth taking this factor into account when planning your journey to ensure that you arrive at the terminal on time. Newspapers and radio stations provide information on whether access to BER Airport is guaranteed.
To minimise other delays as well, a few measures can be helpful:
Have alternative routes ready: Bottlenecks can occur particularly at main traffic hubs such as the Berliner Ring or the A113. In such cases, a detour via smaller country roads can be a sensible option.
Use traffic forecasts: Apps like TomTom or HERE provide traffic forecasts based on historical data and help to identify potential bottlenecks early on.
TomTom:
TomTom provides detailed real-time traffic information based on millions of data sources worldwide. The app is particularly useful for commuters and frequent drivers who need reliable navigation services.
HERE WeGo:
HERE WeGo is a powerful navigation app that offers both online and offline routing. It provides up-to-date traffic data and is particularly helpful for trips to areas with poor network coverage.
A jump ahead of rush hour
Leave early: If you start before rush hour, you can minimise waiting times and travel more relaxed.
- Regular rush hours in Berlin:
- Mornings between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m.
- Afternoons between 3:30 and 7:00 p.m.
- Particularly heavy traffic on weekdays (Monday through Friday)
Particularly critical travel days:
- Weekends before the start of the holidays (e.g. summer holidays, Christmas holidays)
- Public holidays and long weekends when many people travel
Typical peak times for traffic jams on public holidays are between 10:00 and 13:00 in the morning and between 16:00 and 19:00 in the afternoon
Examples of very busy public holidays:
- Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday)
- Ascension Day
- Pentecost
- German Unity Day (3 October)
- Christmas holidays (24 to 26 December)
- New Year's Eve and New Year
- May (Labour Day)
- Reformation Day (31 October, relevant in Brandenburg)
Please also take a look at the calendar for information on bridging days. To make good use of the extra day of holiday, many people fly from BER Airport on these days and the roads are correspondingly very busy. Leaving in good time and avoiding rush hours will help to ensure a stress-free journey to BER Airport.
What to do in the event of unforeseen traffic jams?
Choose an alternative route: If the main access routes such as the A113 or the Berliner Ring (A10) are heavily congested, it is advisable to use alternative routes:
Instead of the A113, the B96a can be used, which runs through Berlin and is less prone to traffic jams.
Travellers from the north of Berlin can take the A114 and then the L76 towards BER Airport.
If you are coming from the west of Berlin, you can take the L40 instead of the A10 to avoid traffic jams on the Berliner Ring.
Alternatively, you can use country roads via Schönefeld to escape rush-hour traffic.
Real-time navigation services such as Google Maps or Waze can help you find the best alternative route.
Stay patient: Aggressive driving behaviour does not save any time and increases the risk of accidents.
Save energy: When stuck in stop-and-go traffic, it can make sense to temporarily switch off the engine to save fuel.
Switch on traffic news: Regional radio stations such as RBB24 (93.1 MHz in Berlin) or Deutschlandfunk (97.7 MHz in Berlin, 96.6 MHz in Brandenburg) often provide the latest traffic updates and congestion warnings.
If a traffic jam is unavoidable, there are still ways to minimise the loss of time:
Parking at BER is a safe and convenient solution. The shuttle service takes you directly to the terminal, so no additional time is lost looking for a parking space.
Conclusion: practical solutions for common problems
A stress-free journey begins with careful preparation. Using modern planning tools, keeping an eye on the traffic situation and leaving in good time are crucial for a smooth journey to BER Airport.
Use real-time traffic services for optimal routes.
Plan alternative routes to avoid unexpected delays.
Reserve your parking space in advance at McParking, to save valuable time.
If you are well prepared, you will reach BER Airport stress-free and on time and can start your journey relaxed.
Visit us on:
